A Little Tiger in the Chinese Night: An Autobiography in Art

by Song Nan Zhang

In 1944, when Song Nan Zhang was not yet three, he saw a baby tiger outside the hut in the mountains where he and his mother were living. The tiger returned twice before disappearing into the bamboo forest forever. For a child to see a tiger meant luck, but Song Nan Zhang wasn’t sure if living in China was lucky or not. Life was so difficult that sometimes he felt like the lost tiger itself, hoping for a home only to be forced back into the dark.

In this, his autobiography, Song Nan Zhang paints the dispersal of his family, his development as an artist, the humor that lightened some of the more difficult times, and finally, his journey to Canada.

Genres: Asia, Geography, Art, China

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Song Nan Zhang is a Canadian-Chinese artist, illustrator and author of children's books.

Reviews

[Melissa Bair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about an artist's experience in China from about the 1940s to the 1980s. We read this during school time and got a good idea of many of the events that happened in China and some of the geography. The only downside to it is that it's hard to say what age group this book is really for. Many of the events were things I already knew about but the kids were often confused so it required some background explanation. But as usual, hearing history in the form of biography is the most compelling.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who thinks that Communism is not a big deal. The author the story of what happened to his family during China's infamous Cultural Revolution. What they had to go through is horrific. An excellent true cautionary tale of why the dream of socialism ultimately fails.

[Anna Mussmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technically a picture book with a lot of words, this is really an autobiography for older kids and adults. The author spent his youth being “reeducated” during the Cultural Revolution. His account is understated and readable.